Device for straightening deformed vehicles or vehicle parts

ABSTRACT

A method and device for straightening deformed vehicles which employ at least one support member attached to a frame member for mounting the vehicle and pivoted thereon, means for locking the support member in place and means for exerting a force between the support member and the vehicle for straightening the latter.

United States Patent Samuelsson Dec. 23, 1975 DEVICE FOR STRAIGHTENINGDEFORMED VEHICLES OR VEHICLE PARTS [75] Inventor: Mokjas Erik SamuelSamuelsson,

v Rattvik, Sweden [73] Assignee: Finmekano Erik Samuelsson AB,

Rattvik, Sweden [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,384

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 13, 1972 Sweden 16266/72[52] US. Cl. 72/447; 72/455; 72/705 [51] Int. Cl. B21D 1/12; B21D 37/06[58] Field of Search 72/705, 447, 456, 455

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,442,425 6/1948 Merrill etal 72/705 X 2,597,234 5/1952 Elam 72/705 X 2,717,020 9/1955 Dobias72/705 X 3,141,493 7/1964 Textor, Sr... 72/705 X 3,340,720 9/1967Chartier 72/705 X 3,590,623 7/1971 Hunnicutt 72/705 X 3,625,047 12/1971Lunardini 72/705 X 3,626,747 12/1971 Rouis 72/705 X 3,630,066 12/1971Chisum 72/705 X 3,689,030 9/1972 Backus 72/705 X 3,698,230 10/1972 Buske72/705 X 3,776,022 12/1973 Lionell0.... 72/705 X 3,835,693 9/1974Majersky 72/705 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 329,131 1970 Sweden72/705 713,232 9/1966 Italy 72/705 Primary Examiner-C. W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-D. M. Gurley Attorney, Agent,,0r FirmMeyer, Tilberry& Body 57 ABSTRACT -A method and device for straightening deformed vehi-4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of83,927,550

U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of8 3,927,550

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 3 of8 3,927,550

FIG.3

\o o o 0 Sheet 4 of 8 3,927,550

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 FIG U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 5 of83,927,550

FIGS

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet6of8 3,927,550

FIGS

29 &

U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 7 0f 8 3,927,550

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 8 of 8 3,927,550

' \i //fi DEVICE FOR STRAIGI-ITENING DEFORMED VEHICLES R VEHICLE PARTSThe present invention relates to a method and a device for straighteningdeformed vehicles or vehicle parts by means of jacks. The devicecomprises a platform, to which the vehicle is anchored.

It ,is the object of the invention to simplify the straightening'work ondeformed vehiclesor vehicle parts, possibilities also being, present tostraighten or repair. vehicles .of different size :and with differentdeformations with a minimum of labour. The invention presupposes the useof jacks or the like for achieving the necessary tensional forces,pressures as well as tensile forces being included in the ,termtensional force..1

What characterizes the invention is apparent from the annexed claims.Some embodiments of the invention will be described in the followingwith reference to theenclosed drawings. I, l J

FIG. I is a front view of a platform according to the invention. FIG. 2is a front view of apart of the platform with accessories and apositioned vehicle. FIG. 3 is a' plane view and FIG. 4 shows a detail ofan embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a detail similar to that inFIG. 4 but a varied embodiment thereof. FIG. 6 illustrates a detailsimilar to-that in FIGS. 4 and 5 but another embodiment thereof. FIG. 7is another embodiment of means for applying the tensional forces andFIG. 8 shows another embodiment thereof. FIG. 9 shows a last illustratedembodiment within the scope of the invention.

In FIG. 1 a front view of'a platform according to the invention isshown. The platform 1' comprises an upper disc 2 and a lower disc 3 heldtogether by a frame 4. The platform is supported by wheels 5 adapted tothe lower disc 3. The vehicle to be straightened is placed on theplatform 1 and anchored in a suitable manner to said platform, theanchoring means used not being comprised within the inventive idea.Edges 6 extend along the upper disc 2, and in the edges around the upperdisc 2 mounting holes 8 are made. The use of these mounting holesappears from the text below. Lower holes 9 are made in the same wayalong the edges 7 of the lower disc, and at the embodiments shown theholes 8 and 9 are placed vertically over each other. This is however notnecessary, but the upper and the lower holes can be reciprocally offsetwithin the scope of the invention.

In FIG. 2 a front view of the invention is shown, i.e. the right halfthereof. It is schematically illustrated that the vehicle is anchored tothe platform 1. At the edges 6 and 7 of the platform holding means forthe tensional forces are adapted. The means comprises a link system 10supporting a standard 14. The standards support chains or rods, notshown, which are adapted to suitable points of the vehicle for carryingout the straightening operation. The straightening operation is knowntechnique per se, which is not described more closely in the presentapplication. A number of holding means for adapting the tensional forcesand necessary for the straightening operation are placed along the edgesof the platform. The link system 10 consists of a vertical arm I1 and ahorizontal arm 12, which are reciprocally combined rigidly, preferablyat right angles. The vertical arm 11 is adapted to the upper holes 8 andthe lower holes 9 by means of pivot pins and can the vehicle 15, whenthe jack is projected and retracted. The tensional forces on the vehicleare exerted in this manner.

In order to prevent the link system to turn away upon the exertion ofthe tensional forces, the link system is locked, when the tensionalforces are to be applied, by means of a locking arm 19. The lockinglength of this arm can be varied by a plurality of holes with pinscooperating in the horizontal arm 12, Le. the jack and the holes 8 inthe upper disc. It is evident from FIG. 3 how the locking arm functionsfor adjusting the locking of the holding means in a suitable verticalplane, and FIG. 3 thus illustrates a planeview of a corner of theplatform but with the vehicle removed. Thus it is apparent from thefigure how four link systems are adapted along the edges 6 of the upperdisc 2 in their holes 8.

. The arc-shaped arrows illustrate the pivotal adjusting possibility ofthe link systems 10 by means of the locking arms 19 and the straightarrows 21 illustrate how the standards. 14 can be pivoted inwardlytowards the platform or outwardly from the platform depending ifpressure force or tensional force is to be applied by means of thestandard 14. In FIG. 5 another embodiment of the holding means is shownand it is shown that an horizontal, rigid arm in the form of a jack isarranged at the lower edge of the link system and is designated 22. Alocking arm 23 is also arranged at the lower edge and corresponds to thelocking arm 19 in FIG. 1. If the jack 22 makes a projecting motion thestandard 14 will in this embodiment be tilted inwards the platform andthus exert a pressing force. Otherwise, in every respect the link system10 in FIG. 5 is designed similarly to the link system 10 in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 6 another embodiment of the link system 10 and the holding meansare shown. In this embodiment both the horizontal arms 24 and 25 aremade rigid in connection with the vertical arm 11 by the arrangement ofa stay 26 diagonally in the link system 10. Like the embodimentaccording to FIG. 2 there is arranged a locking arm 19 against the upperhorizontal arm 24. The standard 14 is in this embodiment fixed, andinstead a jack 27 is arranged displaceable upwardly and downwardly onthe standard 14 and the jack exerts the necessary tensional forces. Asecond holding means may also be arranged, and in one embodiment it isillustrated as consisting of a sleeve 28 slideable on the standard 14 inwhich sleeve a chain 29 is adapted. This chain 29 can take up tensileforces from the vehicle.

In FIG. 7 another embodiment is illustrated. The link system 10comprises in this embodiment a vertical arm 11 like in the foregoingembodiments and has a triangular washer 30 adapted to eyes 31 at thevertical arm 11. A locking arm 32 holds the link system 10 in a setposition relative to the platform 1. At the upper edge of the washer 30there is a number of holes 33 and in these holes jacks 34 can beadapted, which can be single-acting to exert tensile force or pressureforce, or be double-acting and exert both of said force directions. InFIG. 8 still another embodiment is shown, and this commprises as beforea vertical arm 11 adapted to the upper disc 2 and the lower disc 3 ofthe platform I.

Two horizontal arm pieces 34 and 35 are arranged. and at their ends ajack 36 is articulatedly arranged to the upper edge ofthe link system.At the other end the standard 14 is adapted, which at its. lower end isadapted to the lower horizontal arm 35 via an eye. A chain 38 can forinstance be adapted to the arm 14 in different holes 37.

FIG. 9 shows a last embodiment, where the holding means is arrangedsubstantially more heavy and strong than in previous embodiments andintended to take up greater forces. Thus the link system is in this caseclosed and designed as a washer 39. At the upper corner of the washer 39a'jack 40 is adapted and at the lower right corner of the washer thestandard 14 is articulatedly arranged and higher up articulatedlyconnected with the jack 40. The washer has a support roller or twosupport wheels 41 depending on the weight of the holding means. Thestandard 14 is preferably designed as an I-beam and a handle 42 isarranged to push or draw the holding means to its right position forattachment to the platform (not shown). In the upper left corner of FIG.9 the holding means according to FIG. 2 is shown but dismounted from theplatform.

Additional embodiments can be considered within the scope of thefollowing claims. This especially applies to the design of the linksystem, the jacks and the standards.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for straightening a vehicle component comprising, aplatform for supporting a vehicle component, said platform having a sideedge, a vertically extending support arm having opposite ends connectedto said platform adjacent said side edge for pivotal movement of saidsupport arm about a generally vertical arm axis, a vertically extendingforce transmitting member spaced outwardly from said support arm andhaving upper and lower ends, a link member extending between saidsupport arm and the lower end of said force transmitting member andhaving opposite ends pivotally interconnected with said support arm andforce transmitting member at horizontal axes generally parallel to oneanother, extendable and retractable jack means between said support armand said lower end of said force transmitting member and generallyparallel to and vertically spaced from said link member, said jack meanshaving one end rigidly connected with said support arm and the other endpivotally interconnected with said force transmitting member at ahorizontal axis parallel to said axes at said link member ends, wherebyextension and retraction of said jack means pivotally displaces saidupper end of said force transmitting member in a vertical plane towardand away from said platform edge, said support arm, said link member andsaid jack means supporting said force transmitting member for pivotalmovement along an arcuate path about said vertical arm axis and relativeto said platform edge, thus to vary the angle of said vertical planewith respect to said platform edge, and means on said force transmittingmember for connection with said vehicle component.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said jack means isvertically spaced below said link member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, and a locking arm releaseablyconnected to said jack means at a location between said ends thereof andreleaseably connected to said platform at a location along said sideedge spaced from said arm axis.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said jack means isvertically spaced below said link member.

1. Apparatus for straightening a vehicle component comprising, aplatform for supporting a vehicle component, said platform having a sideedge, a vertically extending support arm having opposite ends connectedto said platform adjacent said side edge for pivotal movement of saidsupport arm about a generally vertical arm axis, a vertically extendingforce transmitting member spaced outwardly from said support arm andhaving upper and lower ends, a link member extending between saidsupport arm and the lower end of said force transmitting member andhaving opposite ends pivotally interconnected with said support arm andforce transmitting member at horizontal axes generally parallel to oneanother, extendable and retractable jack means between said support armand said lower end of said force transmitting member and generallyparallel to and vertically spaced from said link member, said jack meanshaving one end rigidly connected with said support arm and the other endpivotally interconnected with said force transmitting member at ahorizontal axis parallel to said axes at said link member ends, wherebyextension and retraction of said jack means pivotally displaces saidupper end of said force transmitting member in a vertical plane towardand away from said platform edge, said support arm, said link member andsaid jack means supporting said force transmitting member for pivotalmovement along an arcuate path about said vertical arm axis and relativeto said platform edge, thus to vary the angle of said vertical planewith respect to said platform edge, and means on said force transmittingmember for connection with said vehicle component.
 2. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein said jack means is vertically spaced belowsaid link member.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, and a lockingarm releaseably connected to said jack means at a location between saidends thereof and releaseably connected to said platform at a locationalong said side edge spaced from said arm axis.
 4. The apparatus asdefined in claim 3, wherein said jack means is vertically spaced belowsaid link member.